Carbon remover and eliminator



Sept. 8, 1931. c. F. SURFACE I CARBON REMOVER AND ELIMINATOR Filed April25, 1930 FIG. 2.

1H. i 11w Will.)

INVENTOR. Carl F Surface ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT @FFECE CARBON REMOVER ANDELIMINATOR Application filed April 25,

The present invention relates to attachments for internal combustionengines and the primary object of the invention is to provide animproved humidifier for admitting water vapor into the explosive mixturefor reducing carbon formation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carbon remover andeliminator attachment embodying a sealed vapor generating chamber havingan outlet connection with the intake manifold of the engine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which will allow engine to function properly at various enginespeeds without requiring any adjustment or inclusion of any movingparts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter embodying a generating tank of novel construction wherebydamage due to freezing is eliminated and thus permitting use of thedevice in cold climates. Y

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of adevice of this character which may be readily applied to the exhaustmanifold of conventional types of internal combustion engines andembody- .ing a novel construction whereby dry steam will be admitted tothe intake manifold of the engine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description, taken in con nectionwith the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification andin which drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of an internal combustionengine and showing the device applied thereto.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section thru the vaporizer.

In the drawings, and wherein similar reference characters designatecorresponding parts thruout the several views, the letter A maydesignate a conventional type of internal combustion engine and B thehumidifier for supplying vapor to the intake mani- 50 fold of the engineA.

I for preventing 1930. Serial No. 447,282.

The internal combustion engine A includes the usual exhaust manifold 5and the intake manifold 6 for conveying the explosive charge from thecarburetor 7 to the combustion chambers of the engine.

The humidifier l3 embodies a vaporizing tank 8 of special design andwhich tank is adapted to be mounted upon the upper side of the exhaustmanifold 5 as by a suitable band 9. The tank 8 may be formed of anysuitable non rusting metal and is formed with a flat bottom or base wall10 from the ends of which are upwardly flaring end walls 11 and from theside edges of which are the upwardly flaring or diverging side walls 12.The flat bottom wall 10 is of substantially rectangular shape having itsgreatest length extending between the upwardly flaring end walls 11.Closing the upper end of the tank 8 is a top wall 14 having its edgessealed to the upper edges of the walls 11 and 12.

Extending upwardly from the top wall 14 adjacent one end thereof is athreaded neck 15 providing a filler opening and which neck removablyreceives a threaded closure cap 16.

Mounted in one of the sloping end walls 11, adjacent the upper endthereof is an overflow valve 18 for regulating the liquid level in thetank during the filling operation. In filling the tank 8 with water, thecap 16 is removed for allowing the water to enter the tank thru the neck15, and during this filling operation the valve 18 is preferably openedfilling of the tank beyond a point spaced slightly below the top wall14. After the tank is filled to the proper level the cap 16 is replacedand the valve 18 closed.

Provided in the top wall 14 adjacent the opposite end of the tank fromthe neck 15 is a relatively small outlet opening 20 for escape of steamgenerated in the tank.

Arranged over the outlet opening 20 and sealed to the top wall 14; is asteam dome 22 preferably of tubular formation and of a diameterconsiderably greater than the small outlet opening 20. The chamberformed by the dome 22 receives the steam generated in the reservoir 8and the small outlet opening 20 prevents any great amount of water inthe reservoir from splashing into the chamber of the steam dome.

Connected at one end into the top of the dome 22 is a feed tube 25 theopposite end of which is connected into the intake manifold 6 by asuitable coupling nipple 26. Thus it will be seen that steam from thedome 22 is conveyed by the tube 25 to the intake manifold 26 for mixingwith the explosive charge generated in the carburetor 7.

It will now be noted that the device is air tight with the exception ofthe opening into the intake manifold 6 and that no air is permitted toenter the vaporizing tank during operation of the engine. Thru this airtight arrangement, there is no need of adjustments being necessary fortuning up the engine since no additional air supply is admitted into theintake manifold thru the feed tube 25. Steam from the dome 22 will beforced by pressure in the dome thru the feed tube 25 and will also beaided intravel thru the feed tube by the suction in the intakemanilVhile in the example shown the bottom wall 10 of the reservoir orvaporizing tank 8 is' shown as being flat for surface contact with theflat upperwall of the exhaust manifold 5 it will readily be apparentthat the bottom wall 1 0 may be of difierentshapes such as arcuate orthe like for snugly fitting upon various types of exhaust manifolds. Insome instances, the tank 8 may be cast as an integral part of theexhaust manifold.

The upwardly sloping end and side walls 11 and 12 respectively willprevent damage to the reservoir thru freezing of the water in thereservoir, since should the liquid in the reservoir freeze the frozenmass is permitted to expand and rise in the tank without damage to thetank. This feature is extremely desirable in that it permits use of thedevice in subzero weather without any danger of damage to the vaporizingtank. Since as before stated, the valve 18 should be opened when fillingthe tank, an air space will be formed above the liquid in the tank andwill allow for expansion of the liquid should such freeze. It will alsobe apparent that the air tight feature prevents uneven running of theengine even tho all of the water is exhausted from the tank 8 in that noadditional air supply is admitted to the intake manifold.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that a novel and simple device ofthis character has been provided which may be readily mounted uponvarious types of internal combustion engines for admitting vapor intothe explosive charge for the engine. It will also be apparent that thespecial design of the vaporizing tank permits use of the device in coldclimates without danger of damaging the tank d-ueto freezing of theliquid therein.

Changes in detail may be made to the form of invention. herein shown anddescribed,

without departing from the spirit of the invention-or the scope of thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. A humidifier for internal combustion engines comprising an air tightwater reservoir to be heated from the exhaust of the engine and havingupwardly flaring end and side walls, a chamber arranged above thereservoir in communication therewith, and a feed tube connected with theupper side of the chamber forconnection with the intake manifold of theengine.

2. 'A humidifier for internal combustion engines comprising a vaporizingtank fitted to the exhaust manifold of the engine having upwardlyflaring side and end walls, a cover plate closing the top of the tank, afiller opening for the tank, closure means for the filler opening, asteam dome secured to the cover plate and having communication with thetank, and a feed tube connected with the top of the dome for conductingwater vapor to the intake manifold of the engine.

3. A humidifier for internal combustion engines comprising a vaporizingtank. for mounting uponthe exhaust manifold of the engine havingupwardly flaring end and side walls and a cover plate closing the top ofthe tank, a filler opening for the tank, closure means for the filleropening, a valve in one wall of the tank for controlling the water levelin the tank, a steam dome sealed to the cover plate, said cover platehaving a small outlet opening forming communication between the tank anddome, and a feed tube connected with the upper end of the dome forconducting water vapor to the intake manifold of an engine.

4. A device of the class described comprising an elongated vaporizingtank for attach-L ment to the exhaust manifold of an internal combustionengine including a bottom. wall, upwardly flaring end and side walls,and a cover plate having a sealed connection with the upper edges of theend and side walls, a;

filler neck adjacent one end of the cover plate, a closure cap for theneck, a shut-off valve in one end wall for regulating the water level inthe tank, said cover plate having a small outlet opening for the tank, atubular chamber forming member sealed to the cover plate over saidoutlet opening. and being closed at its upper end, and a feed tubeconnected with the upper end of said chamber forming member forconducting water vapor to the. 1

intake manifold of the engine.

CARL F. SURFACE.

